Malheur County, Oregon
Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
Malheur County is Oregon's southeastern corner, bordering Idaho and Nevada. The Snake and Owyhee Rivers provide irrigation for the productive farmland around Ontario and Nyssa, while the rest is open range.
Malheur County is one of Oregon's most productive agricultural counties — onions, sugar beets, potatoes, and other irrigated row crops thrive in the warm climate. Cattle ranching covers the rangeland beyond the irrigated areas.
Quick Facts
| Region | Eastern Oregon / Snake River |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Vegetables, Corn, Wheat, Dairy, Honey |
| Farms & Ranches | ~861 (2022 USDA Census) |
| Agricultural Land | ~1,130,000 acres |
| Average Farm Size | ~1,300 acres |
Find Your Local USDA Offices
Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS (conservation programs like EQIP and CSP) and FSA (loans, disaster assistance, farm numbers) under one roof. Most Oregon counties are served by a Service Center that may cover multiple counties.
Find your Service Center:
Search for "Malheur County" to find your local NRCS and FSA offices, including address, phone number, and hours.
What to do when you call: Ask to schedule a meeting with a conservation planner (for EQIP/CSP) or a loan officer (for FSA programs). Mention the type of operation you run and what improvements you're considering. They'll tell you what to bring to the meeting.
Programs for Malheur County Operations
Based on the agricultural profile of Malheur County, these programs are most likely to be relevant:
Irrigation efficiency is the top priority — the Owyhee and Malheur Projects need modernization. Cover cropping and soil health on irrigated cropland are strong fits. The dual nature of the county (irrigated crops + range cattle) means two different sets of EQIP practices apply.
Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener — it takes 2 minutes and generates a personalized action packet you can print and bring to your USDA office.
Local Conservation Priorities
Every county has specific conservation priorities set by the Local Working Group (LWG) — a committee of local ranchers, farmers, NRCS staff, and conservation partners. EQIP applications that address local priorities score higher in the ranking process.
We don't have Malheur County's specific LWG priorities yet.
Ask your local NRCS office: "What are the priority resource concerns in Malheur County?" This directly affects how your EQIP application is scored. You can also attend the annual LWG meeting — they're open to all producers.
Your Next Steps in Malheur County
- Run the eligibility screener to see which programs fit your operation: Free Screener
- Find your local USDA Service Center and call to schedule a meeting: Service Center Locator
- Read the full Oregon guide for statewide program details, deadlines, and office contacts: Oregon Farm Programs Guide
This guide is part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by Oregon ranchers. Free for everyone.